This wikiHow teaches you how to create a disc image (ISO) file from a folder, CD, or DVD on a Mac or Windows PC. ISO files can be loaded and run like a CD or DVD, without requiring you to insert the disc into your computer. You can also copy the ISO file to a disc if you want to make your own executable CD or DVD. However, you can only create an ISO file from a CD or DVD if the disc is not protected by copyright.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Windows
Step 1. Install your WinCDE
This free, open source application will make it easy for you to create ISO files on your Windows computer.
- Visit https://wincdemu.sysprogs.org/download via a web browser.
- Click the button " Download ” which is green and save the file to your computer.
- Double click the downloaded file and select " Yes ” to allow the program to run.
- Click the button " Install ”.
- Click " OK ” after the installation is complete.
Step 2. Insert the disc you want to copy (optional)
If you want to duplicate a CD or DVD by creating an ISO file, insert the disc at this point.
Step 3. Press the shortcut Win+E
A Windows File Explorer window will open.
Step 4. Add the files that you want to put into the ISO file in one folder
Skip this step if you want to use a CD/DVD or have all the files in one folder. Otherwise, follow these steps to create a new folder:
- Right-click an empty space on the right pane and select “ New ” > “ Folders ”.
- Type in a name for the folder and press the “ Enter ”.
- Drag all the files you want to include into the folder. Alternatively, select the files separately (hold down the “ Ctrl ” while clicking each file name), press the shortcut “ Ctrl” + “C ”, then right click the newly created folder and select “ Paste ”.
Step 5. Right-click the folder or drive
The context menu will expand afterwards.
Step 6. Select Create ISO Image or Build ISO Images.
The options displayed will depend on the source of the file (eg a file from an optical drive or computer).
Step 7. Enter a name for the ISO file
The file type " ISO " is automatically selected from the drop-down menu at the bottom of the screen so you only need to enter a file name (eg my ISO) into the “File Name” field.
If you want to choose a different storage directory for the ISO file, open that folder
Step 8. Click Save
WinCDEmu will create an ISO file from the selected files. The progress bar will update and show the remaining time in the file creation process.
After the process is complete, you can click the " Close " The ISO file that has been created will be displayed in the directory you specified.
Method 2 of 2: On MacOS
Step 1. Put the files you want to include in the ISO file into a single folder
If the files are already placed in one folder or you want to create an ISO file from a CD or DVD inserted in an optical drive, you can skip this step. Here's how to create a new folder:
- Open the Finder by clicking the two-tone smiley face icon in the Dock.
- Click the folder " Desktop ” on the left pane or select another folder if you want to create a new folder in a different directory.
- Click the menu " File " and select " New Folder ”.
- Type in a folder name. Use a name that reflects the contents of the ISO file you will be creating.
- Press " Return ”.
- Drag the files that you want to include in the ISO file to a new folder.
Step 2. Open Disk Utility
An easy way to open it is to click on the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner to first access Spotlight, type disk utility, and click “ Disk Utility ” in the search results.
You can also open Disk Utility in the Finder by clicking the " Go " and choose " Utilities ” > “ Disk Utility ”.
Step 3. Click the File menu and select New Image
The menu will be expanded.
Step 4. Select Image from Folder or Image from (disc).
If you want to create an ISO file from a folder, select the option “ Folders " If you want to create a file from a CD or DVD on an optical drive, select “ Image from (disc) ”, with "(disc)" as the name of the disc installed in the optical drive.
Step 5. Select the folder containing the contents for the ISO file and click Open
You can skip this step if you selected the optical drive in the previous step.
Step 6. Enter a name for the ISO file
Type the name you want to use in the " Name " field at the top of the window.
Step 7. Select Desktop as the location in the "Where" section
Select this option so that the next steps you need to do are simpler.
Step 8. Select DVD/CD master from the "Format" drop-down menu
With this option, you can use the ISO file with third-party applications on different platforms.
Step 9. Click the Save button
It's at the bottom of the window. The selected folder or CD/DVD will be saved as a disc image. The image will initially be created as a CDR file that is identical to the ISO file on a Mac. However, you will need to perform additional conversions to convert it into an ISO file that can be used on a PC. Keep following this method to convert the file to ISO format.
Step 10. Convert the created file to an ISO file
Although this step is not mandatory if you want to use the image file on a Mac computer, the created CDR file cannot be used on a PC. Here's how to convert it to the appropriate format:
- Open a Terminal window. You can open it by accessing the Finder, selecting the menu “ Go ”, clicking “ Utilities, and select " Terminal ”.
- Type cd ~/Desktop and press “ Return ”.
- Type in hdiutil makehybrid -iso -joliet -o [filename].iso [filename].cdr. Make sure you replace both [filename] segments with CDR file names.
- Press the button " Return ” to convert the CDR file to ISO format. After that, the ISO file will be displayed on the computer desktop.
